by Jas - Perr apologises for the delay. She just couldn't log on to because the server was too busy, and her computer had 1742 viruses. It's all fixed now. :) Thanks for the support.
Harry's POV
After dinner, Ron, Hermione and I decide to go sit by the lake for a while. They both know that Malfoy sent me a note – I think everyone around me knows, because Malfoy was smart enough to send it in the Hall – but not the message, of course. On the way out, Hermione continued to question me about it, despite me telling her that it's nothing, while Ron kept quiet. Settle things once and for all... I had to assure her that it was not another duel, or so I think.
The air outside the castle is crisp, and the surface of the lake very much calm, with the occasional rippling of water. I see a few couples have decided to come out too. Hermione propped her head on Ron's shoulder, and even in the moonlight, I can tell that he's blushing. Everyone knows they have a thing for each other, but neither wants to admit it. They really should get together. I decide not to ruin their little 'moment' and just think about the note.
Really wonder what Malfoy wants now. If I'd not read the note, I'd say he seems to be fond of writing letters. I realise that something bizarre happens almost everyday, and he is always involved in some way or another. Maybe it's because of the truce.
Anyhow, I can't describe the particular feeling I have, but I know it's not a bad one.
"Lumos." I wait until everyone's asleep before looking at the Map. Malfoy's still in his Common Room. I decide to leave earlier; perhaps I'll even have time to wander around Hogwarts a bit.
I climb out of the portrait hole, under the Invisibility Cloak; Marauder's Map and wand in hand. Checking the Map and walking around at the same time. Filch's on the second floor... Snape in his office... Draco Malfoy's leaving the Slytherin Tower. Perfect. Maybe I should wait and see where he's heading and which corridor would be most convenient.
From the Map, I can tell that he is just walking around aimlessly. I head off in his direction as quick as I can, coming across the Fat Friar along the way.
I get to that particular corridor, but I don't see anyone there. Ah, he's obviously still wandering around. I whip out the Map again. Makes no sense to keep this in my pocket for now. I stride through a few other hallways. He isn't very far away at this moment.
Then I see faint wand light at the end of the hall, and hear some cussing. That should be him. I check the Map again – had to be certain. Yep. I quicken my pace 'til I'm beside him. But he doesn't stop walking. Oh, the Cloak. I take it off, and acknowledge his presence with a quiet, "Hey."
Malfoy starts stammering, then I tell him to get to the point. Meeting in the middle of the night is just... another bizarre matter.
He tells me that he'll tutor me if I'd like. I snorted. Hmm. Very likely. I'm not buying that.
Now he says that he has a problem with the truce. Should have known better, he would probably die from all this civility. Mrs Norris scurries by, before I can come up with an answer. And the Cloak saves us from the ever-cynical caretaker. Malfoy had better not say anything now.
All's quiet and we see Filch with his oil-lamp, looking for students out of bed. He seems to have heard our breathing and walks cautiously towards us, but there's a loud noise down yet another corridor; and he goes after it. Oh, thank whoever! Could be Peeves. Then again, I don't care. I just want to know what...
There's warmth on my leg.
What the fuck is Malfoy doing?
A long silence.
I try my best to pretend not to bother, and redirect my attention to why... what he really wants to tell me - something about him and myself.
"What about us?" I ask.
And then we... we're kissing.
Brain freeze. And I lose my will to respond, or even move. I just let him kiss me.
I'm shaking, but he doesn't notice. I don't know if I let the Cloak slip out of my hand, but that doesn't matter anymore. Seems damn long ago that we were hiding from Filch.
He pulls away, gets out from under the Cloak, with terrified eyes and a questionable look on his face, and I watch him run off; still feeling numb and possibly just petrified. We were still... schoolmates yesterday, and now? I don't know.
I sit in the hallway for God-knows-how-long, before staggering back to bed; still wondering... about us. I am not even close to questioning my sexual preference, yet.
5.24 a.m. I am the first one up, if I even slept at all.
My friends have caught me in a reverie, too many times. I wasn't aware of whatever that happened. Not even when Hermione was lecturing Dean and Seamus at the top of her voice, or so I am told.
This is annoying. Am I gay?
No.
Yes.
No.
Maybe.
No. Don't know.
I feel like guzzling Veritaserum now.
My train of thought is disrupted by someone asking, "Which girl, Harry?" I turn around and see Ron looking at me. Hermione's probably eavesdropping too.
"Huh?"
"You heard me, which girl had got your attention?" he grins.
"Girl? There's no girl."
"Well, I really think you need to find yourself one then."
"After Cho Chang?" I nearly spit. "No way, I've had enough with girls."
Ron looks as if Dumbledore had retired. The book Hermione was reading is now on her lap. She, too, is flabbergasted.
"Uh... for now!" I hesitate. My god, that was close.
Oh. Did I just answer my previous question?
